Virtue of Charity

Giving Charity Repels Misfortune

The Virtue of Giving Charity Out of Public Sight

Giving Charity During the Night

Giving Charity Increases One’s Wealth

Giving Charity to Relatives

Providing for the Family to Improve the Quality of Their Lives

One’s Dependents

Giving Charity to Those Whom One Does Not Know

Giving Charity to Bedouins and People Who Live in Desolate Areas

Undesirability of Turning Away One Asking for Help

The Amount of Charity for One Asking for Help

The Prayer of the Recipient of Charity

One Who Distributes Charity Has a Share in Rewards with the Donor of Charity

Self-Abnegation (Giving Preference to Others Over One’s Self)

One Who Asks for Help Without Actually Needing Help

Unpleasantness of Begging

Embarrassing the Recipient of a Favor

Giving Charity After an Appeal From a Recipient

Benevolent Assistance (Optional Charity as Opposed to Compulsory Ones)

The Virtue of Benevolent Assistance

Another Chapter about the Subject of the Previous Chapter

Providing Benevolent Assistance Repels Wicked Encounters

Providers of Benevolent Assistance Will be Identified as Such on the Day of Judgment

Completion of Benevolent Assistance

Finding a Proper Recipient of Benevolent Assistance

Disciplines for Providing Benevolent Assistance

Refusing to Appreciate a Benevolent Assistance

Providing a Loan

Extending Due Date of Payment in Favor of the Borrower

Waiving a Loan in Favor of a Dead Person

The Cost of Maintenance of Wealth

Appreciation of Bounties

Understanding Generosity and Munificence

Spending on Deserving Causes

Stinginess and Greed

Rare Ahadith about Charity

Virtue of Serving Food

The Excellence of Moderation

Detestability of Over-Spending and Living in Austerity

Providing Water for Drinking

Charity for Descendents of al-Hashim and the People of Their Household (Servants) and Compensation to Them

The Rare Ahadith

The Excellence of Fast and Fasting

The Excellence of the Month of Ramadan

About the One Who Serves Food to a Fasting Person

Prohibition of Saying ‘Ramadan’ Instead of the ‘Month of Ramadan’

The Words to Say When the Month of Ramadan is About to Begin

Verifying the Rise of the New Moon and Finding Witnesses for It

Another Chapter about the Previous Subject

The Day That Is Doubtful About Its Being of the Month of Sha‘ban or the Month of Ramadan

Kinds of Fasts

Disciplines During Fasting

The Fasting of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause

Excellence of Fasting in the Month of Shaman, Continuing Such Fast to Connect it with the Month of Ramadan, and Three Days of Fasting Every Month

Breakfast before Dawn

The Prayer to Say During Breakfast after Sunset

Fasting Continuously and All the Time

The Case of One Who Eats or Drinks but Has Doubts About Its Taking Place before or after Dawn

What Is Dawn, When Does It Come and When Is It Unlawful to Eat?

The Case of One Who Eats, Thinking it to Be after Sunset, when It Is Not yet Sunset

The Time of Breaking Fast after Sunset

The Case of One who Eats or Drinks out of Forgetfulness During the Month of Ramadan

The Case of One Who Knowingly Eats or Is Involved in Carnal Relation During the Month of Ramadan

The Case of a Person Involved in Carnal Relations in the Form of Kissing or Foreplay

The Case of One Who Experiences a Wet-Dream During the Night in the Month of Ramadan or at Other Times and Does Not Shower before Dawn or It Occurs During the Night or Day

The Undesirability of Immersing One’s Head in Water while Fasting

Rinsing One’s Mouth and Nostrils while Fasting

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Vomiting, Nauseating or Burping

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Use of Bath Room and Apply Cupping

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Sniffling or Use of Eardrops or Enema

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Use of Kohl (Eye Drops or powder)

A Fasting Person’s Use of Tooth Brush

A Fasting Person’s Use of Perfumes

A Fasting Person’s Use of Chewing Gum

The Case of a Fasting Person Tasting the Salt in Cooking Pot and Chews for the Fledgling

The Case of a Fly or Mucus Entering the Throat of a Fasting Person

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Keeping a Ring, a Pebble or a Date Stone in His Mouth while Fasting

The Case of Seniors Who Feel Weak when Fasting

The Case of a Pregnant or Breastfeeding Woman Who Feels Weak when Fasting

The Limit of Illness That Exempts One from Fasting

The Case of One Who Remains Ill for Two Consecutive Months of Ramadan

Remedy and Compensatory Fast for the Missed Fasting During the Month of Ramadan

The Case of One Who Wakes up in the Morning with an Intention to Fast, but Who Does Not Do So or Vice Versa when Fasting Is a Compensatory Fast for the Missed Fast in the Month of Ramadan or Other Days

The Case of One Who Fasts Optionally while He Is Obligated to Make Up for Fasting of the Month of Ramadan He Has Missed

The Case of a Person Who Passes Away Owing Fasting of the Month of Ramadan or Other Times

Children’s Fasting and When They Owe Fasting

The Case of One Who Becomes a Muslim during the Month of Ramadan

Undesirability of Traveling in the Month of Ramadan

Undesirability (unlawfulness) of Fast on a Journey

The Case of One Who Fasts on a Journey out of Ignorance

Those Who Do or Do Not Have to Break Their Fast on a Journey 

Optional Fasting on a Journey and Qada’ (compensatory fast) of Fasting Missed on a Journey

The Case of One Who Begins a Journey or Returns from a Journey in the Month of Ramadan

The Case of a Traveler Who Enters His Town or a Place where He Wants to Stay for Ten Days

The Case of One Who Involves Himself in Carnal Relations with His Wife on a Journey or Returns from a Journey in the Month of Ramadan

The Case of Fasting during Menses: Major or Minor One

The Case of One Who Owes Fasting of Two Consecutive Months but an Obstacle Prevents Him 

Fasting As Expiation for Swearing

1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَمَّنْ رَوَاهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِذَا بَعُدَتْ بِأَحَدِكُمُ الشُّقَّةُ وَنَأَتْ بِهِ الدَّارُ فَلْيَعْلُ أَعْلَى مَنْزِلِهِ وَلْيُصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَلْيُومِ بِالسَّلامِ إِلَى قُبُورِنَا فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يَصِلُ إِلَيْنَا.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from those narrated to him who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If the location of one of you is far away and your home is at a distant place, you then should climb on the roof of your house. You should perform two Rak‘at salat (prayer) and then turn, for offering your greeting of peace, to our graves; we receive such offering of greeting of peace.’” 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ زِيَارَةَ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَزُرْهُ وَأَنْتَ حَزِينٌ مَكْرُوبٌ شَعِثٌ مُغْبَرٌّ جَائِعٌ عَطْشَانُ وَسَلْهُ الْحَوَائِجَ وَانْصَرِفْ عَنْهُ وَلا تَتَّخِذْهُ وَطَناً.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from certain individuals of our people who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said that if you wish to visit al-Husayn (a.s.), you should visit him when you feel sad, faced with hardship, in an untidy physical condition, hungry and thirsty. Ask him to help you for your wishes, then move away and do not adopt it as your place of residence.” 

3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ كَرَّامٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَأْخُذُ الإِنْسَانُ مِنْ طِينِ قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَيَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ وَيَأْخُذُ غَيْرُهُ وَلا يَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ فَقَالَ لا وَالله الَّذِي لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ مَا يَأْخُذُهُ أَحَدٌ وَهُوَ يَرَى أَنَّ الله يَنْفَعُهُ بِهِ إِلاَّ نَفَعَهُ بِهِ.

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Faddal from Karram from ibn abu Ya’fur who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘How is it that certain people take some soil from the gravesite of al-Husayn (a.s.), and benefit thereby, but others do not benefit thereby?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, by Allah, beside whom no one deserves worship, that is not the case. If one takes such soil with belief that Allah will benefit him thereby, He will certainly benefit him thereby.’” 

4ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ إِنَّ عِنْدَ رَأْسِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) لَتُرْبَةً حَمْرَاءَ فِيهَا شِفَاءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ إِلاَّ السَّامَ قَالَ فَأَتَيْنَا الْقَبْرَ بَعْدَ مَا سَمِعْنَا هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ فَاحْتَفَرْنَا عِنْدَ رَأْسِ الْقَبْرِ فَلَمَّا حَفَرْنَا قَدْرَ ذِرَاعٍ ابْتَدَرَتْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ رَأْسِ الْقَبْرِ مِثْلُ السِّهْلَةِ حَمْرَاءَ قَدْرَ الدِّرْهَمِ فَحَمَلْنَاهَا إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ فَمَزَجْنَاهُ وَأَقْبَلْنَا نُعْطِي النَّاسَ يَتَدَاوَوْنَ بِهَا.

4. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Al-Husayn ibn Ali from Yunus ibn al-Rabi’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that near the head of al-Husayn (a.s.), there is red soil. It is cure for all kinds of illnesses except al-Sam. He (the narrator) has said, ‘We then went to the grave after hearing this Hadith. We dug near the head about a yard from the head of the grave and some red sand appeared. It was of the size of a dirham. We took it to al-Kufa and mixed it with other soil. We would give to people who used it as curing medicine.’” 

5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ رِزْقِ الله بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلاءِ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ عُمَرَ السَّرَّاجِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ يُؤْخَذُ طِينُ قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مِنْ عِنْدِ الْقَبْرِ عَلَى سَبْعِينَ ذِرَاعاً.

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Rizq Allah ibn abu al-‘Ala’ from Sulayman ibn ‘Umar al-Sarraj from certain individuals of our people who has said the following: “Clay of the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.), can be taken from within a seventy square yard area.” 

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ لِمَوْضِعِ قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) حُرْمَةٌ مَعْلُومَةٌ مَنْ عَرَفَهَا وَاسْتَجَارَ بِهَا أُجِيرَ قُلْتُ صِفْ لِي مَوْضِعَهَا قَالَ امْسَحْ مِنْ مَوْضِعِ قَبْرِهِ الْيَوْمَ خَمْسَةً وَعِشْرِينَ ذِرَاعاً مِنْ قُدَّامِهِ وَخَمْسَةً وَعِشْرِينَ ذِرَاعاً عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ وَخَمْسَةً وَعِشْرِينَ ذِرَاعاً مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ رِجْلَيْهِ وَخَمْسَةً وَعِشْرِينَ ذِرَاعاً مِنْ خَلْفِهِ وَمَوْضِعُ قَبْرِهِ مِنْ يَوْمَ دُفِنَ رَوْضَةٌ مِنْ رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ وَمِنْهُ مِعْرَاجٌ يُعْرَجُ مِنْهُ بِأَعْمَالِ زُوَّارِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَلَيْسَ مِنْ مَلَكٍ وَلا نَبِيٍّ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ إِلاَّ وَهُمْ يَسْأَلُونَ الله أَنْ يَأْذَنَ لَهُمْ فِي زِيَارَةِ قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَفَوْجٌ يَنْزِلُ وَفَوْجٌ يَعْرُجُ.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I heard him (the Imam) (a.s.), say, ‘The clay of the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.), has a well-known sanctity. One who with proper understanding seeks refuge therein, he receives protection thereby.’ I then asked him (the Imam) to identify for me its location. He said, ‘From the location of his grave today, measure twenty- five yards from its front side, twenty- five yards from the side of his head, twenty-five yards from the side of his feet, twenty-five yards from the side of his back. The location of his grave from the day he was buried is a garden of the gardens of paradise. It is an ascending place. From this place the deeds of his visitors are taken to the heaven. There is no angel or prophet in the heaven who do not ask Allah for permission to visit al-Husayn (a.s.). Thus, one group descends down and the other group ascends up.”’ 

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ الْخَتْمُ عَلَى طِينِ قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنْ يُقْرَأَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَرُوِيَ إِذَا أَخَذْتَهُ فَقُلْ بِسْمِ الله اللهمَّ بِحَقِّ هَذِهِ التُّرْبَةِ الطَّاهِرَةِ وَبِحَقِّ الْبُقْعَةِ الطَّيِّبَةِ وَبِحَقِّ الْوَصِيِّ الَّذِي تُوَارِيهِ وَبِحَقِّ جَدِّهِ وَأَبِيهِ وَأُمِّهِ وَأَخِيهِ وَالْمَلائِكَةِ الَّذِينَ يَحُفُّونَ بِهِ وَالْمَلائِكَةِ الْعُكُوفِ عَلَى قَبْرِ وَلِيِّكَ يَنْتَظِرُونَ نَصْرَهُ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ اجْعَلْ لِي فِيهِ شِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ وَأَمَاناً مِنْ كُلِّ خَوْفٍ وَعِزّاً مِنْ كُلِّ ذُلٍّ وَأَوْسِعْ بِهِ عَلَيَّ فِي رِزْقِي وَأَصِحَّ بِهِ جِسْمِي.

7. Ali ibn Muhammad in a marfu‘ manners, has narrated the following: “He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘The benefit of the clay from the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.), is complete when thereupon Chapter 97 of the Holy Quran is read.” “It is narrated that when you take the clay say, ‘I begin this task in the name of Allah. O Allah, I appeal before You through this clean soil, this marvelous location, through the rights of the executor of the will whom You have concealed here. I appeal before You through the rights of his grandfather, his father, his mother and his brother. (I appeal before You) through the angels who surround it, the angels who are assigned to the grave of the one who possesses Your authority, who wait to support him, grant salawat (favors and compensation) to all of them. I appeal before You to place cure in it for me for all illnesses. Make it a protection against all frightening matters and strength against all weakness. Increase my sustenance and grant me good health thereby.’” 

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ حَنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَا سَدِيرُ تَزُورُ قَبْرَ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لا قَالَ فَمَا أَجْفَاكُمْ قَالَ فَتَزُورُونَهُ فِي كُلِّ جُمْعَةٍ قُلْتُ لا قَالَ فَتَزُورُونَهُ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ قُلْتُ لا قَالَ فَتَزُورُونَهُ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ قُلْتُ قَدْ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ مَا أَجْفَاكُمْ لِلْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ لله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَلْفَيْ أَلْفِ مَلَكٍ شُعْثٌ غُبْرٌ يَبْكُونَ وَيَزُورُونَ لا يَفْتُرُونَ وَمَا عَلَيْكَ يَا سَدِيرُ أَنْ تَزُورَ قَبْرَ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي كُلِّ جُمْعَةٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ وَفِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مَرَّةً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ فَرَاسِخَ كَثِيرَةً فَقَالَ لِي اصْعَدْ فَوْقَ سَطْحِكَ ثُمَّ تَلْتَفِتُ يُمْنَةً وَيُسْرَةً ثُمَّ تَرْفَعُ رَأْسَكَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ انْحُ نَحْوَ الْقَبْرِ وَتَقُولُ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَةُ الله وَبَرَكَاتُهُ تُكْتَبُ لَكَ زَوْرَةٌ وَالزَّوْرَةُ حَجَّةٌ وَعُمْرَةٌ قَالَ سَدِيرٌ فَرُبَّمَا فَعَلْتُ فِي الشَّهْرِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ عِشْرِينَ مَرَّةً.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Saimah ibn ai-Khattab from ‘ Abd Allah ibn al-Khattab from ‘ Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Sinan from Misma’ from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Hanan from his father who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said, ‘O Sadir, do you visit the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.), every day?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, no, I do not visit every day.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘How harsh are your manners toward him!’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘Do you visit him every Friday?’ I replied, ‘No; we do not visit him every Friday.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you visit him every month?’ I replied, ‘No, we do not visit him every month.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you visit him every year?’ I replied, ‘Sometimes we do and sometimes we do not visit him once every year.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘How harsh have you been toward al-Husayn (a.s.), O Sadir! Do you not know that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has assigned a million angels to the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.) ? These angels are sad, sorrowful and in an untidy physical condition and they mourn for him. They visit him tirelessly. It is not difficult, O Sadir, if you visit al-Husayn five times every week, once every day.’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, there are many miles between our location and the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.) .’ He (the Imam) said to me, ‘You can climb on the roof of your house, then turn right and left, then raise your head toward the sky, then turn toward the direction of the grave and say, ‘(I hereby declare, affirm and acknowledge that you are a ‘Alayhi al-Salam and my) submission to (your commandments), O abu ‘Abd Allah. (I hereby declare, affirm and acknowledge that you are a ‘Alayhi al-Salam and my) submission to (your commandments) and appeal to Allah to grant you kindness and blessings. For this much one Zawrah will be written for you. One zawrah is equal to one al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah.’ Sadir has said, ‘I thereafter would do so, more than twenty times every month.” 

9ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ خَارِجَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ النِّصْفُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ نَادَى مُنَادٍ مِنَ الأُفُقِ الأَعْلَى أَلا زَائِرِي قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ ارْجِعُوا مَغْفُوراً لَكُمْ وَثَوَابُكُمْ عَلَى رَبِّكُمْ وَمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيِّكُمْ.

9. Afi ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from certain individuals of his from Harun ibn Kharijah who has said the following: “In the middle of the month of Sha‘ban an announcer announces from the high horizon, ‘O visitors of al-Husayn (a.s.), you may return home. Your sins are forgiven and your reward is with your Lord and Muhammad (SAW), Your prophet.’”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 237